5/18/92 (Day 184) — Preemies at Home, day 51

Here are the babes at six months old chronologically, two months old corrected age. For the most part, they were still acting like their corrected age, with frequent feedings and not much ability to self soothe. But their feedings were getting more consistent. They look so awake and alert in this picture, and very much like the infants they were. Traces of preemiehood were beginning to fade, but the retractions noted by the nurses were a lingering sign of their prematurity. Their lung damage made activities like feeding and bathing more difficult than for the average 2-month old. The retractions, which indicated labored breathing, also meant that these activities were burning lots of calories. Getting enough calories into them for them to grow continued to be a real issue. It's hard to grow when you burning off what you eat as you eat it. Molly also had a habit of turning blue (especially her feet and hands) during strenuous activities or temperature changes, both of which were unavoidable during bath time. Her feet still turn a disconcerting blueberry color when she's cold. Just a few months ago, a gym teacher ordered her out of the pool when he saw her color change. Still, look how cute they were getting. Ike's hair was a source of constant amusement. Molly remained close to bald for years.

Home nursing notes:

Isaac

Awake at 1:00 a.m. Circumcision site dressed with gauze and Neosporin ointment. Penis pink. Fer-in-sol given at this time. Awake crying at 2:00 a.m. Took 40 ccs, burped and returned to crib still crying. Tylenol given as ordered, repositioned and rocked awake until 3:00 a.m. Awake and crying at 4:00 a.m., comforted by holding in arms; passing flatus. Took 30 ccs of formula at 4:30. Mylicon given at 5:00 a.m., still awake in crib sucking on pacifier. Took 20 ccs at 7:15 a.m. Awake and fussy at 8:00 .a.m. Took 40 ccs in 15 minutes. Penis pink and slightly swollen; Neosporin and sterile gauze applied. Ike continued to be irritable; gave Tylenol at 8:40. Bundled an placed in crib with pacifier. Awake and crying at 10:30; nippled 40 ccs, burped well. Nippled 20 ccs at 11:00 a.m. then fell asleep, sats 98%. Awake and crying at 1:00 p.m., circumcision care done per instructions. Nippled 40 ccs and fell asleep during feeding. Awake and demanding at 3:00 p.m. Diaper changed and Neosporin applied. Nippled 40 ccs with much encouragement. Continued to be fussy. Tylenol given.

Molly

Asleep but restless at 8:00 a.m. Comforted with pacifier. Awake and fussy at 10:00 a.m. Nippled 80 ccs in 30 minutes. Respiratory effort with moderate subcostal retractions when upset, mild when quiet. Sats 95%. Awake and crying at noon. Bath and shampoo given. Nippled 60ccs well. Back to sleep prone in crib. Awake and crying at 2:00 p.m. Nippled 60 ccs over 30 minutes. Awake and fussy at 3:30; nippled 45 ccs then fell asleep and returned to crib.

Look How We’ve Grown

The pictures in the banner at the top of this blog are Isaac shortly after birth (l), Ike and Molly in 2010 (c), and Molly shortly after birth (that's her dad's wedding ring dangling on her arm, just to put things in perspective).